Doha: Japan, Iran, and UAE will be under extra pressure tonight while hosts Qatar will be feeling the responsibility to do their best in front of the crowd when the AFC qualifier for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 kick off in Doha.
Japan, Iran, and UAE are ranked among the 15 best teams in the world, according to the Beach Soccer rankings and are the 14 sides which will compete in the tournament.
There are three spots available from the AFC qualifier in Doha for the upcoming World Cup in Portugal.
On the first day today, six matches will be played. Hosts Qatar begins their campaign against Laos in Group A, while Oman take on Bahrain in another Group A match.
The other matches will see UAE take on Iraq in Group C, China squaring to Vietnam in Group B, while favourities begin their campaign against Kuwait in Group B. IN the last match of the day Iran and Lebanon will fight it out in the Group D match.
Yesterday all the participating teams took part in a training session on the sand of the Katara Beach Stadium.
The official training day gave teams a chance to experience, for the first time, the sand of the Katara Beach stadium and the last chance for the 14 teams to test their actual level ahead of the fiercely demanding competition.
Palestine FA announced that administrative issues have prevented the team from taking part in the qualifier.
With Palestine withdrawal Group B has been reduced to three teams - United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Iraq. Notwithstanding, the pullout the match schedule of the rest of the groups will remain the same, organizers of the event said.
Meanwhile Japan coach Marcelo Mendes said that: “There are so many strong teams and improving squads on the entire continent that this could be anyone’s tournament.”
The Nippon want to get back at the top of continental Beach Soccer but coach Mendes alerts: “It is not a one-enemy-only thing. We need to be focused”
Getting back to the peak of the mountain in Asian beach soccer will not be easy, despite the fact that the Japanese are almost always at the top of the pecking order.
Since 2006, Japan has finished in first or second in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – AFC qualifier. In 2009 and 2011, they were champions but things changed in 2013 when Iran dethroned the Blue Samurais.
The Japanese coach, who has been in his current role for almost a year after a long spell in the UEA, knows what the most important thing is for his squad, saying: “Yes we want to defeat Iran but we also need to prioritize, we cannot relax and focus on only one opponent.”
That much is true with all growing talent in the area.
Japan has not rested on their laurels as they have already had a busy year, with training camps, friendlies, and tours all over the world. Everyone within the team is confident that all this hard work will pay-off.
“I honestly believe we are one of the favourites and our extensive training and practices have put us in the position to win and they show how dedicated we are to winning. But, I know that it is going to be really tough, and we will face some truly powerful opponents who also have significant chances to win,” Mendes said.
the peninsula
